ISLAMABAD - The National Assembly was informed Friday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will raise the issue of India's fanning terrorism in Pakistan at the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Replying to a question in the lower house, Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, said that the government will definitely expose Indian spy agency RAW's engagement in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan and Fata, on all international forums including the UNGA.
Mr Aziz explained that the government has already pointed out Indian involvement in internal affairs of Pakistan to different foreign dignitaries, adding that Islamabad would again reach out to international community in this regard.
Mr Aziz left the house immediately after the Question Hour, though lawmakers wanted him to say in the house to inform them about the future course of action Pakistan would adopt after Taliban leader Mullah Omar’s demise.
Earlier, replying to a question of Ms Munaza Hassan, the adviser said Pakistan has taken up the issue of RAW's activities at the high level as well as with India bilaterally, and has utilised media to expose Indian involvement in the terrorist activities in Pakistan.
He said during the foreign secretary-level talks held on March 3, 2015 in Islamabad, the Pakistani foreign secretary had raised the issue with his Indian counterpart SJ Shankar and identified the areas where the neighbouring county was intruding through its spying agency.
To a supplementary question about threat of Indian home minister to Pakistan after the Gurdaspur incident, Aziz said the Foreign Office has issued two statements in this regard. He said the Foreign Office spokesman on Thursday categorically negated and rejected these baseless allegations.
He added that it has been repeatedly made clear that Pakistan was capable enough to give befitting reply in case of any threat from Indian side. He added that Kashmir issue must be resolved as per UN resolutions as Kashmir is the core issue in Pak-India relations and bilateral talks.
To a question of Sheharyar Khan Afridi of PTI about overcrowding and bad condition of some of the jails in Saudi Arabia where these Pakistanis are languishing, the adviser told the House that it was in government's notice. He said out of a total of two million Pakistanis residing in Saudi Arabia, only 2,309 were imprisoned and the government is utilising all channels to provide relief to these prisoners.
In his written reply, the adviser said the nature of crimes of prisoners include theft, forgery/fraud, possession, sale and trafficking of narcotics, rape, murder, adultery, bribery, immoral activities and overstay or illegal stay.
He said the Pakistani diplomats and community welfare officers were in contact with these prisoners, adding that they have conducted 247 visits of various jails to get first hand information about condition of Pakistani prisoners. He said the cases of 1,084 prisoners in total have been followed up by the Pakistani missions during the year 2014-15.
Talking to INP news agency, Sartaj Aziz said the suspended talks between Afghan government and Taliban representatives would certainly resume but no dates have yet been decided. He said Taliban have confirmed the death of Mullah Omer and elected a new Ameer. The talks were suspended on their request.
In reply to a question, he said the Foreign Office has given a categorical response to the irresponsible statement of the Indian interior minister about Gurdaspur terrorist attack. He said the meeting between prime ministers of Pakistan and India in Ufa, Russia, took place on the request of Narendra Modi. He avoided answering question whether a meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Modi would take place in New York in September.
PAK, INDIAN security advisers’
MEETING LIKELY ON AUG 23
Monitoring Desk adds: The Modi government is busy firming up the agenda for talks between the Indian and Pakistani national security advisers that are likely to be held on August 23 and 24, reported Hindustan Times on Friday.
The killing of seven people, including four policemen, in Gurdaspur cast a shadow over the resumption of dialogue agreed upon at a meeting of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif in Russia on July 10, but New Delhi believes it needs to engage with Nawaz Sharif’s government while keeping open the option of retaliation.
“The dates were suggested before the Gurdaspur attack and appear to be on track,” said an Indian official involved with the preparations.
The Ufa joint statement after the Modi-Sharif meeting said both sides had agreed to the meeting in New Delhi between the two NSAs to discuss all issues connected to terrorism.
Sources revealed India has told Pakistan that another attack or an escalation in border tensions in the run-up to the scheduled meeting between the NSAs will cast a serious shadow on the engagement process agreed on in Russia.
The Gurdaspur terror attack will now be on top of Doval’s agenda.